Fifa retains World Cup vote date
Baku, October 29 (AZERTAC). Fifa president Sepp Blatter says the vote to decide who will host the 2018 and 2022 World Cup tournaments will still take place on 2 December.
Fifa has made the decision despite two of its executive members being suspended for allegedly selling votes.
"We are five weeks from the final decision so there was never a question of changing anything," said Blatter.
"So on 2 December the Fifa executive committee will decide in a secret ballot the hosts for 2018 and 2022."
Although Fifa has decided to press ahead with the voting schedule Blatter did question the idea, for which he took responsibility, of running the bidding process for the two competitions at the same time.
The two Fifa executive members who have been suspended are Nigerian Amos Adamu and Tahiti`s Reynald Temarii, and the pair are under investigation by the organisation`s ethics panel.
Blatter confirmed that a ruling on their future is expected on 17 November and, if the two are not reinstated, then only 22 Fifa executive members will cast a vote instead of the full 24.
"This is an uncomfortable situation for Fifa but we must say that inside Fifa we have the necessary instruments to react properly," said Blatter.
"The ethics committee are addressing a case that involves allegations of possible corruption. We will deal with them according to current regulations.
"If and when people are suspended for the vote on 2 December they will not be replaced."
In a campaign process dogged by controversy, the Fifa ethics committee is also looking into claims of collusion between the joint Spain and Portugal bid and that of Qatar, although both teams have denied all allegations.
Spain and Portugal are vying with England, Russia and a joint bid from the Netherlands and Belgium to stage the 2018 World Cup.
In the race to host the 2022 competition, Australia, Qatar, Japan/South Korea and the United States are in the running.
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